Amador County Divorce Records Search
Divorce records for Amador County are kept at the Superior Court in Jackson. All cases filed in this county end up in the same court system. The clerk maintains the full file for each divorce including all papers from start to finish. Amador County has an online portal where you can search for cases by name or case number. This lets you look up basic information from home. If you need certified copies or want to see the full case file, you can visit the courthouse in person or send a written request by mail. The court handles divorce cases for all cities and towns in Amador County from Jackson to Sutter Creek to Ione and everywhere in between.
Court Contact Details
Amador County Superior Court is at 500 Argonaut Lane in Jackson, CA 95642. The main phone number is (209) 257-2600. Call during business hours to talk to the clerk. You can ask about a case, find out fees, or request copies of records. The staff can help you over the phone or in person.
The county has an online portal at amadorportal.org. Use this site to search for divorce cases. Type in a name or case number. The system shows results that match your search. You can see the case number, filing date, parties, and status. Click on a case to view more details like the docket showing all filings in the case.
Searching is free. You do not pay to look up cases online. If you want copies of documents, you need to contact the clerk. Some documents may be available to view on the portal but most require you to request them directly from the court. The portal is a good way to find the case number and confirm the court has the file before you order copies.
How to Get Record Copies
Visit the courthouse at 500 Argonaut Lane in Jackson. Walk in and tell the clerk what you need. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, give them both party names and the year of the divorce. The clerk will search the files. If they find the case, they can make copies while you wait. You pay the fees and take the copies with you. In-person visits are fast.
Mail requests also work. Write a letter asking for the records you need. Include the case number or the names and year. Say if you want plain copies or certified copies. Send a check or money order for the fees. Mail it to Amador County Superior Court, 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA 95642. Processing time varies but most mail requests get handled within one to three weeks. Include a phone number so the clerk can call if they have questions.
You can call first to ask about fees and availability. The clerk can tell you if the case exists and what it will cost to get copies. That way you know before you send money or drive to the courthouse. Have your info ready when you call so they can find the case quickly.
Fees for Records
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15. This is the standard fee set by California Government Code Section 70674. The fee includes the certification and the pages of the decree. Plain copies without certification cost $0.50 per page.
If you need other court documents certified, the fee is $40 plus $0.50 per page for the copies. That is the rate under Government Code Section 70626. If the clerk has to search for your case because you do not have a case number, they may charge a $15 search fee if it takes more than 10 minutes. Government Code Section 70627 allows this fee.
Bring the case number to avoid the search fee. You can find the case number by searching the online portal before you request copies. That saves time and money. Check or money order is best for payment. Some courts take cash but call ahead to confirm what forms of payment they accept.
What Is in a Divorce File
Every divorce case creates a file. The file holds all papers from the case. The petition starts it. That paper says what the person filing wants. The response comes from the other spouse. Both sides file financial disclosures showing income, assets, and debts. If they settle out of court, they file a marital settlement agreement. If they go to trial, the file has motions, declarations, and orders from the judge.
The final judgment is the divorce decree. This is the court order that ends the marriage. It says how custody, support, and property get divided. Most people only need a certified copy of this judgment. Banks, employers, and agencies ask for it to prove the divorce is done. You can get just the judgment or you can request the whole file if you need all the documents.
Some records may be sealed or confidential. Information about children is protected. Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers get redacted from public copies. If a party asked the court to seal the case for safety or privacy reasons, you may not be able to get those papers without a court order. The clerk will tell you if any documents are restricted.
Divorce Law in California
California allows no-fault divorce. You file based on irreconcilable differences. That means the marriage cannot be saved. You do not have to prove cheating or abuse. California Family Code Section 2310 lists the grounds as irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. Almost everyone uses irreconcilable differences. The court grants the divorce without asking for details about what went wrong.
You must meet residency rules. One spouse must live in California for six months before filing. That person must also live in Amador County for three months. Family Code Section 2320 sets these requirements. The petition must say you meet the time limits. The court can ask for proof like a lease or utility bills with your Amador County address.
A six-month wait applies after you serve the petition. The divorce cannot be final until at least six months pass. Family Code Section 2339 creates this waiting period. Even if both sides agree on everything, the judge must wait six months to sign the final judgment. The court can make temporary orders during the wait for custody, support, and who lives in the house.
Property gets divided equally. California is a community property state. All assets and debts from the marriage belong to both spouses. Each gets half unless they agree to something else. Separate property is different. If you owned something before the marriage or got it as a gift or inheritance, it stays yours. The court decides what is community and what is separate before dividing anything. This applies in Amador County just like the rest of California.
Help with Your Case
Amador County Superior Court has staff who can help with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice. They cannot tell you what to do in your case. But they can explain how to fill out forms and what steps to follow. Visit or call the court to ask for help. The clerk can point you to the right forms and tell you where to file them.
The state court website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has all the standard divorce forms used in California. Download them for free. Each form comes with instructions. Use these forms in Amador County or any other California county. They all use the same basic set of forms.
If you need a lawyer, the State Bar of California offers a referral service at 1-866-442-2529. They connect you with a family law attorney in your area. Legal aid groups help people with low income. Call a local legal aid office to see if you qualify for free or low-cost help with your divorce.
Nearby Counties
If your divorce was filed in a different county, contact that county court. Each California county keeps its own records.